Power Outages Rainfall Extreme flooding is occurring in New Orleans per the National Weather Service.  More than eight inches of rain have fallen today in west New Orleans. This is equivalent to a 50 year flood in some areas. 

Radar at 7:04pm shows a widening eye that has fallen apart. Wind gusts at the New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport have reached 65 mph.  Unfortunately, power has gone out in a large area near and along the path of the storm.  This will be the last update as the storm is inland.  5pm -- official landfall 4pm radar As I feared, the storm has officially intensified to 100 mph (Cat 2) with gusts to 120 mph. As predicted below, the highest winds will be moving into New Orleans in about an hour.  The power outages are increasing rapidly. ---- 3:30p ---- 3:30p The highest winds are in the hatched "W" area. They will be arriving in downtown New Orleans or the French Quarter after 4:30pm. Please make sure you are in sturdy shelter.  2pm Update The highest winds are in the "donut" marked with the W . It is moving toward New Orleans.  First area of concentrated power outages in orange. There will be many more before the sun sets.  ---- We have our first tornado wa...

Hurricane Francine's warnings have become more extensive. The tropical storm warning has been extended into southwest Mississippi. At 8:25pm, the speed has increased to 77 mph and the pressure has dropped to 977 millibars. These values are still valid at 10:10pm. The maximum sustained winds at landfall are forecast to be 100 to 105 mph with stronger gusts.  Color codes (above): Red = hurricane warning. Pink = hurricane watch. Blue = tropical storm warning (winds of 40 to 73 mph) Yellow = tropical storm watch. Amber = current area of 40 to 75 mph winds.  Brown = hurricane force winds of 75 mph or stronger In addition to a tropical storm warning, there is a hurricane watch for Baton Rouge and the Greater New Orleans area. The tropical storm warning has been extended to the western Florida Panhandle.  Here are the forecast winds for the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas.  There will be widespread tree damage and power outages. On the Lake, there is an outside chance of ...

The forecast has not changed much since yesterday. Red is a hurricane warning. Blue is a tropical storm warning. Yellow is a tropical storm watch. The wind speed is forecast to br 100 mph at landfall. 

4:10p This forecast has been updated. Hurricane warnings  have been issued for the Louisiana coast. The update is available here .  2:05pm. Francine is strengthening  significantly. As of 1pm, it is maximum sustained winds are 60 mph and the pressure has dropped to 996 mb. Here is the forecast rainfall.  10:10am: NHC has officially upgraded the system in the southwest Gulf to Tropical Storm Francine. A hurricane watch has been issued for the Louisiana Coast from Cameron to Grand Isle.  Then-Hurricane Francine is forecast to come ashore with 85 mph winds. The winds will affect Baton Rouge and, possibly, New Orleans. Please note the hurricane watch goes inland a ways to account for the potential for 75 mph or stronger winds away from the coast.  Pink = hurricane watch.  Yellow = tropical storm watch.  Amber = area of 40 to 50 mph winds at present. Maximum sustained winds are 50 mph and the lowest pressure is 1002 millibars.  Published at 9:20am...